On November 27, 1980, the suburb was officially named, drawing from the Aboriginal languages "para" signifying river and "owie" representing water,[2] settlement of the area dates from the late 19th century, with land used predominantly for market gardens and farms.

[8] The former farmhouse located at 8 Settler's Court, Paralowie is listed as a State Heritage Place on the South Australian Heritage Register, because the Burdett family who lived on the property, who both developed a cattle stud and influenced local affairs.

It is reported as being "an important example of the larger pastoral properties that characterised the region prior to the urban development after World War Two.

[10][11] It is historically representative of the time which Salisbury North had not yet been incorporated into the Adelaide metropolitan area, but instead was home to a number of larger estates in what was still a semi-rural environment.

[13] The premises is now used for a Commonwealth funded youth homelessness early intervention program run by the UnitingCare Wesley church.